Top 10 Ridley Scott Movies
2. Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)
Blade Runner was a critical and box office bomb upon its initial release in 1982, an issue Scott has publicly addressed in the decades since with re-releases of the now classic science fiction movie in various home video formats, the most well-established of which is Blade Runner: The Final Cut.
Owing many of the initial release’s problems to studio interference – not least regarding the cheesy sunset conclusion and voiceover narration – Scott re-framed and restructured his original work to more accurately resemble his vision of a dark dystopian future of questionable morals, thus creating a neo-noir masterpiece of aesthetically pleasing tension built around a series of iconic and quotable moments the likes of which the sci-fi genre has looked to replicate ever since.
“All will be lost like tears in rain” is a quote from the movie that could have been incredibly poignant regarding this film’s success were it not for its initial cult following and Scott’s subsequent passion to re-work Blade Runner into the powerhouse that it is today.
A true must-see for any fan of Ridley Scott, sci-fi, or film as an artistic medium, Blade Runner is an undisputed classic of the silver screen.
Recommended for you: A Brief History of the Director’s Cut
1 . Alien (1979)
Alien Review
Alien may not have been the first movie in Ridley Scott’s illustrious career, but it was certainly his most game-changing.
Combining elements of science fiction and horror, Scott navigated one of the most creative genre pieces in the contemporary era; so respected was his work that it remains a staple of film studies in universities worldwide.
The film announced the Brit as one of the top talents emerging from a decade that was filled to the brim with young, hungry and incredibly talented directors, and was the first showcase of how focused and personal he could make even the most grand and outlandish of stories.
The film’s iconic “chest-burst” scene is perhaps the most well-remembered moment and has been parodied, and paid homage to, countless times in the decades since. It was, however, in the casting of Sigourney Weaver as the lead character that the movie became more than just an incredibly well made film, but also the home of one of the strongest female roles in the contemporary era of Hollywood.
Recommended for you: Designing Nightmares: H.R. Giger and ‘Alien’
With such a wide range of highly respected, critically acclaimed and widely beloved movies to choose from, we’re sure your top 10s are likely to differ somewhat. If they do, let us know how in the comments below. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to never miss The Film Magazine’s lists, reviews, interviews, essays or news.
